By VIVIANE GILBERT STEIN of the East Oregonian
PENDLETON - Some of the newest inmates headed for Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution might actually be looking forward to it.
That was the impression EOCI staff got from visiting with female inmates at two other Oregon prisons during recent training visits.
| Second of a Four-Part Series |
| Part I: Building preparations almost complete for new inmates. |
| Part II: A look at the change from the eyes of the EOCI staff. |
| Part III: Education programs will be tailored to the women's needs. |
| Part IV: Women arrive at the formerly all-male Pendleton prison. |
The women asked the correctional officers many questions about the Pendleton prison - perhaps wondering if they might be selected to move when women inmates are housed here for the first time.
The response to answers about EOCI's reputation for strict rules, cleanliness and a safe, secure environment?
Relief, reported the staff.
"We have a reputation as one of the best in the nation, and we're proud of that," said Dusty Hearn, one of the correctional officers trained to work in the new women's unit. "I think they'll find we're a little more rule-oriented here."
Seventeen staff, as well as two nurses and a pharmacy technician, will work in the H Unit, which will start housing women this week. The positions are new but the staff are not; all worked elsewhere at EOCI before requesting the new assignment.
"We would rather have people working with women offenders who want to be there," said Unit Manager Lisa Large. "It'd just be easier."
The full-time crew - which is about half male, half female - recently went through 40 hours of classroom training, followed by field trips to Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem and Columbia River Correctional Institution in Portland.
Managing women inmates requires a different approach than working with men, officials explained.
"We will hold the women offenders accountable just like we do the men, it's just you have to do things a little differently," said Sgt. Robert Veatch, who will oversee the day shift.
"The approach staff takes may be a little different approach to get to the same endpoint," Large said. "The end results are the same but you may have to get there in a different way."
For example, many of the female inmates bring histories of abuse into prison. Therefore, hollering at them to get something done could trigger flashbacks to emotional, physical or sexual abuse, staff learned in training.
Their health requirements are also different. Many of the women enter the correctional system in a much more neglected state than men, which means they require more health care.
Women inmates are more emotional. They like to talk more, especially about their children during the holidays.
And, Hearn added, "They ask a lot of questions. You can't just tell them what to do," and expect the orders won't be questioned. "And that's not such a bad thing," he was quick to point out.
But it is different.
"Men play by the rules a lot more," said Veatch, who worked with female inmates at the county jail before coming to the prison. "Women are more social, so the rules aren't quite as finite as they are for the men."
There are also more privacy issues mandated by law, which means some of the staff positions are filled only by women workers.
Just as in the general population of male inmates, a range of offenses might have landed the women behind bars. Women inmates will be classified as medium security or close custody, the step between medium and maximum security.
"We'll have everything from arson and property crimes, or person-to-person crimes," Large said. "We may have sex offenders. It's just a matter of who we end up with."
Regardless, EOCI staff and officials believe they're ready to handle the new challenge.
After several months of frantic work, the building is ready.
"It's really taking shape," said Rimbey. "We've been doing everything to make sure it's good and safe."
And staff members are ready.
In fact, several of the correctional officers are looking forward to the change, which they view as a career challenge. "I wanted to round out my career a little," said Sherry Rimbey, who has worked at EOCI for 8 1/2 years. "I thought it'd be a good opportunity."
"I just wanted to do it for the challenge," said Kristina Smith. "I've been here 3 1/2 years. This is something new and I wanted to jump on it."
"They're very open-minded and flexible and very professional," Veatch said of the staff. "It'll be a challenge but I think everybody will definitely be able to handle that challenge."
"I've been real impressed with how the staff have pulled together to get H Unit ready" in a short period of time, said Superintendent Jean Hill.
"I think we're ready."